HCM City, August 9 (VNA) – HCM City looks forward to closer ties between Vietnam, including the city, and ASEAN nations and its partners for the prosperity of the region and the world, said Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong on August 8.

Phong made the remarks at a ceremony in HCM City to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (August 8, 1967) with senior officials of local governments and diplomats from ASEAN nations in attendance.

He said the last five decades have seen extraordinary progress for ASEAN, with the bloc growing stronger, developing in scale and working to foster regional and cooperation and to strengthen solidarity, mutual understanding and trust between member states, he said.

ASEAN is a key factor in promoting dialogue and collaboration for prosperity and security across the region and the globe by playing a central role at a number of regional forums like ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3 and the ASEAN Regional Forum, he added.

Phong went on the say that HCM City has established relations with six ASEAN cities and provinces and engaged in bilateral cooperation with other member states in multiple fields.

As of the end of July, there were 1,465 investment projects, worth 15.45 billion USD, operated by ASEAN countries in the city, mostly in processing, manufacturing and education and training, the chairman said.

On behalf of ASEAN consul-generals and honourary consuls in HCM City, Indonesia Consul-General Jean Anes hailed the city for hosting the celebration, describing it as a demonstration of the common awareness of the significance of maintaining and fostering values of ASEAN.

The city’s Thong Nhat Conference Hall, People’s Committee Head Office, Saigon Opera House, Central Post Office and Ho Chi Minh Museum were lit up from 18:45 to 22:00 on the same day to celebrate the anniversary.